Suspenders.



Patented N 0v. 25, 1913.

ATTORNEYS COLUMBIA PLA ncRAPH CD-JVASHINQTON. D. c,

LYNN P. MASON, OF CONEWANGO VALLEY, NEW YORK.

SUSPENDERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 25, 1913.

Application filed February 11, 1913. Serial No. 747,727.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, LYNN P. MASON, a

citizen of the United States,'and a resident of Conewango Valley, in the county of Cattaraugus and State of New York, have in-. vented a new and useful Improvement in Suspenders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in suspenders and has for its object the provision of an article of the character specified, consisting of independent straps slidably connected at the back in such manner as to permit limited relative longitudinal movement of the straps.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a rear view of a portion of the suspenders, Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1, Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the connection be tween the holding loops, and Fig. 4 is a partial rear view of' a modified construction.

In the present embodiment of the inven tion, two straps 1 and 2 are provided, one of the straps being designed to be passed over each shoulder and connected to the trousers at the front in any desired or usual manner. The rear end of each of the straps 1 and 2 is passed through a loop 8, and doubled back upon itself and connected to the body of the strap by stitching or in any other suitable manner.

Each of the loops 3 is provided with a central depending lug to which is pivoted a stirrup 1, by means of a rivet 5 or the like. The stirrup is formed by doubling a suitably shaped strip upon itself, the ends thereof being provided with openings through which the rivet 5 is passed. A loop 6 is passed through each stirrup, each of the said loops being continuous and of cord or the like, of sufficient strength for the purpose. It will be noticed that the stirrup 4 is shaped to fit the loop, the ends 7 of the stirrup being bent down as shown, so that the edges of the stirrup do not engage the loop to abrade the same. 7 Each loop is of suiiicient length to extend from the button on the trousers band to approximately the small of the back, and at its lower end the side members of each loop are brought together alongside each other and are held in this position by means of clips 8 and 9. Each of the said clips 8 and 9 is clamped uponthe side members of the loop in such manner that the clip cannot slide longitudinally on the loop, and cannot become disengaged therefrom. The clip 9 is of greater length than the clip 8, and the-said clip 9 is spaced apart a suflicient distance from the lower end of the loop to permit the side members of the loop to spread apart as indicated at 10, to form a button hole for engaging the button of the trousers band.

v The side members of each loop atthe upper end of the loop are spaced apart, and a spacing member of leather or like material is arranged at the said portion of the loop. The said spacing member is formed by doubling a strip of leather or the like, upon itself, to form a sleeve or collar 11 at each end, the said sleeves or collars being connected by the body 12 of the spacing member. Preferably the strip from which the spacing member is formed is folded around the side members of the loop, to form three thicknesses between the said side members, one'thickness embracing each side member. The spacing members 11-12 are slidable on the loop, and the adjacent side members of the loops at the said upper portion are connected by means of sleeves l8 and 14, the said sleeves being slidable on the adjacent side members of the loop. Each of the sleeves 13 and 14: is formed of metal, and is of tubular form. One end of each of the said sleeves is recessed at opposite sides as shown at 15 and the said sleeves are oppositely arranged. The sleeves are of such size that they permit free movement of the loops with respect to each other, the side members sliding through the sleeves freely. Between the sleeves 13 and 14: the loops are connected by a loop 16, the said 100p being formed from a strip of leather or like material folded upon itself to form the loop, the ends being connected as shown in Fig. 2.

The ends of the strip forming the loop are lapped at the center of one side of the loop, and are secured together by stitching 17 or in any other suitable manner, and the outermost end is bent outwardly between loop and the member shown in Fig. 3 is connected to the loop at this point.

The connecting member shown in Fig. 8 is formed from wire or the like, bent to form three approximately parallel cross bars 23, 24 and 25, connected at their ends by longitudinal bars 26 and 27, and a sleeve 28 is arranged on the central cross bar 24. The wire is first bent to form the bar 24, then to form one section of the bar 27 and is then bent parallel to the bar 24 to form the bar 23. The wire is then bent to form the bar 26, the bar 25, and then the end of the wire is bent into alinement with the .first-named section of the bar 27 to complete the formation of the said member.

' The said member is arranged with the bar 26 in the opening 22 and with the bars 28 and 25 at the upper and lower edges of the' loop respectively.- The bar 24 with the sleeve thereon is arranged at the center of the loop, the strip forming the loop having an opening through whichthe said bar is passed, and the said member is arranged between the adjacent side members of the loops6. The loop 16 thus embraces both loops 6 and the member shown in Fig. 3 holds the loop in such position that the central portion of the said loop is always between the loops 6. Each loop 6 is freely slidable through the adjacent end of the loop 16, and the sliding movement is limited by the engagement of the stirrup or the engagement of the spacing member 12 with the sleeves 13 and 14.

If desired, the clip 8 may be omitted, in which case the spacing member 12, shown in Fig. 4, is made use of. The spacing member12 differs from the member 12 in no respect, except that it is secured to the loop 6' instead of being slidable thereon as is the spacing member 12.

The spacing member 12 and the stirrup 4 hold the upper end of each loop 6, that is, that portion of the loop above the clip 8 in spaced relation, and the sleeves 13 and 14 hold the adjacent side members of the loops alongside each other, while permitting them to move longitudinally with respect to The loop 16 holds the outer each other. side members of the loops from outward movement and forms a guide and support for the said upper ends of the loops. The loop 16 and the sleeves 13 and 14 also 00-.

operate with the spacing members 12 and 12 and the stirrups to limit the relative longitudinal movement of the loops.

In the usual form of suspenders wherein the straps 1 and 2 are crossed and secured together atthe back, it is very diflicult to arrange that portion of the suspender between'the said connection and the trousers band in such manner that it will conform to the movements of the body and will not disarrange the clothing. With the present construction, the two straps are independent so far as a limited relative movement is concerned, yet they are held together sufiiciently to prevent separation laterally. The said construction permits the suspenders to follow the movements of the body without disarranging the clothing, and without discommoding the wearer.

In the construction shown in Fig. 4, the clip '8 is omitted, and the spacing member 12 corresponding to the spacing member 12 of the construction of Fig. 1 is stitched to the side members of the loop as shown. The side members at the lower end of the loop converge toward each other from the spacing member 12 to the clip 9.

It will be noted that the loops 3 and the stirrups 4, the sleeves 14 and 15, and the clips 8 and 9, as well as the holding members of Fig. 3 are of metal, while the spacing members 12 and 12 and the holding members 16 are of leather or the like.

I claim 1. As an article of manufacture, suspenders consisting of straps for engaging opposite shoulders, a stirrup pivoted to the rear end of each strap, an endless holding loop of cord or the like passing through each stirrnp, a spacing member at approximately the center of each of the said lastnamed loops for spacing the side members of the loops apart, the stirrup spacing the said side members at the upper end of the loop, clips engaging the side members below the spacing member and holding the said side members alongside each other, said side members at the lower extrcn'iity of each loop being capable of separation to engage a button, the adjacent side members of the loops above the spacing members lying alongside each other, a pair of sleeves engaging the said side members and slidable thereon, and an endless loop of flexible material inclosing both loops between the sleeves, said loop being slidable on the said loops between the sleeves, the side members of the said loop being connected between the adjacent lying side members of the said holding loops.

2. As an article of manufacture, suspenders consisting of straps for engaging opposite shoulders, a stirrup pivoted to the rear end of each strap, an endless holding loop of cord or the like passing through each stirrup, a spacing member at approximately the center of each of the said last-named loops for spacing the side members of the loops apart, the stirrup spacing the said side members at the upper end of the loop, clips engaging the side members below the spacing member and holding the said side members alongside each other, said side members at the lower extremity of each loop being capable of separation to engage a button, the adjacent side members of the loops above the spacing members-lying alongside each other, a pair of sleeves engaging the said side members and slidable thereon, and an endless loop of flexible material inclosing both loops between the sleeves, said loop being slidable 011 the holding loops between the sleeves.

3. As an article of manufacture, suspenders consisting of straps for engaging opposite shoulders, a stirrup pivoted to the rear end of each strap, an endless holding loop of cord or the like passing through each stirrup, a spacing member at approximately the center of each of the said last-named loops for spacing the side members of the loop apart, the stirrup spacing the said side members at the upper end of the loop, clips engaging the side members below the spacing member and holdingthe said side members alongside each other, said side members at the lower extremity of each loop being capable of separation to engage a button, the adjacent side members of the loops above the spacing members lying alongside each other, means for inclosing both loops above the spacing members, said means being slidable on the loops, and a slidable connection between the adjacent side members of the loop on each side of the said means.

4. As an article of manufacture, suspenders consisting of straps for engaging opposite shoulders, a stirrup pivoted to each strap, an endless holding loop of cord or the like passing through each stirrup, a spacing member at approximately the center of each of the said last-named loops for spacing the side members of the loop apart, the stirrup spacing the said side members at the upper end of the loop, means slidable on the loops for inclosing the spaced portions of both loops between the spacing members and the stirrups, and a slidable connection between the adjacent side members of the loops above the spacing members. v

5. As an article of manufacture, suspenders comprising a pair of independent straps, a stirrup pivoted to the rear end of each strap, an endless holding loop slidable in each stirrup, a clip connecting the side members of each loop near the lower end thereof to form a button hole, a spacing member at approximately the center of each loop for holding the side members in spaced relation, the stirrup spacing the side members at the upper end of the loop, means for inclosing the upper ends of both loops, said means being slidable on the loops, and a sliding connection between the side members of the loops above and below the said means.

6. As an article of manufacture, suspenders comprising independent straps, an endless holding loop for each strap, a stirrup for each loop through which the loop is slidable, each stirrup being connected to one of the straps, means for spacing the side members of each loop at the upper portion of the loop, a flexible loop inclosing both of the said holding loops at the spaced portions thereof and slidable on the loops, and sleeves connecting the adjacent side members of the holding loops, said sleeves being arranged one above and one below the flexible loop.

LYNN P. MASON.

Witnesses:

HORACE E. WELLS, CHARLES J. MASON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, .D. O. 

